As the United States concludes its presidential election on November 5, 2024, the timeline for determining the winner between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump remains uncertain. Several factors, including state-specific vote-counting procedures and the closeness of the race, influence when results will be finalized.
Historical Context and Current Expectations
In the 2020 election, the surge in mail-in and early voting due to the COVID-19 pandemic led to delays, with the presidential race called four days after Election Day. While 2024 has seen fewer early votes, potentially expediting the counting process, experts caution that results may still not be available on election night.
Key States and Poll Closing Times
The timing of results depends significantly on when polls close and how quickly states count ballots. For instance, polls in Georgia close at 7 p.m. Eastern Time, with early results expected shortly thereafter. North Carolina follows at 7:30 p.m. Eastern. Other crucial battleground states have varying poll closing times:
Pennsylvania: 8 p.m. Eastern
Michigan: 8 p.m. Eastern
Wisconsin: 9 p.m. Eastern
Arizona: 9 p.m. Eastern
Nevada: 10 p.m. Eastern
Early results from states like Georgia and North Carolina may provide initial insights into the election’s direction. However, final outcomes could be delayed if the race is tight, especially in slower-counting states such as Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Wisconsin.
Each state regulates the processing and counting of ballots, particularly mail-in and absentee votes. Some states begin counting these ballots before Election Day, while others start on the day itself, potentially causing delays. For example, due to their unique processes, Arizona and Nevada may take over a week to finalize results.
Impact of the Electoral College
The Electoral College plays a pivotal role in determining the election outcome. A candidate needs 270 electoral votes to win the presidency. Battleground states are crucial, as their electoral votes can sway the result. For instance, Pennsylvania holds 19 electoral votes, the most among swing states. Therefore, delays in counting votes in these critical states can postpone the overall election result.
As of Election Day, polls indicate a close race between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump. According to FiveThirtyEight’s poll tracker, Harris leads by 1.2 points, with 48 per cent to Trump’s 46.8 per cent. Such a narrow margin suggests that even small delays in vote counting could impact the timing of declaring a winner.
While some results may be available on election night, the outcome of the 2024 presidential race may not be known immediately. Factors such as state-specific vote-counting procedures, the closeness of the race, and the time required to process mail-in and absentee ballots contribute to potential delays. Therefore, when do the results come out?
Patience is essential as the nation awaits the official results.
